Oregon Department of Energy Awards Grants to 19 Counties for Energy Resilience Planning

Media Contact: Jennifer Kalez
Program Contact: county.resilience@energy.oregon.gov

The counties participating are: Baker, Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Lake, Lane, Tillamook, Union, Wheeler, Cohort: Hood River, Gilliam, Sharman, Wasco, and Cohort: Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson

SALEM – The Oregon Department of Energy has awarded $950,000 in grants to 19 Oregon counties to support development of energy resilience plans through the agency’s County Energy Resilience Grant Program.

Energy resilience plans – and the actions to implement them – will strengthen the ability of a community to maintain or quickly recover the energy systems needed to support critical public services during disruptions to the state’s larger energy systems. Strengthening local energy resilience is fast becoming a priority as Oregon has experienced more extreme weather events in recent years like ice storms and extreme heat, as well as public power safety shutoffs during potential wildfire conditions. Local energy resilience will also support communities in the event of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.

ODOE awarded each participating county $50,000 to develop a plan that outlines current energy infrastructure, determines resilience needs, identifies communities more vulnerable to energy disruptions, and maps out a path for implementation. Plans are due to ODOE by August 1, 2025.

“A well-thought-out plan is crucial to strengthening resilience and responding quickly after a disruption to our energy system,” said ODOE Director Janine Benner. “We’re proud to support counties as they plan for their unique resilience needs.”

The 19 counties who applied to participate in the program, including two cohorts pooling funding, are:

  • Baker

  • Benton

  • Clatsop

  • Columbia

  • Grant

  • Harney

  • Malheur

  • Lake

  • Lane

  • Tillamook

  • Union

  • Wheeler

  • Cohort: Hood River, Gilliam, Sherman, Wasco

  • Cohort: Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson

The Oregon Legislature created the County Energy Resilience Program in 2023 through House Bill 3630. Each of Oregon’s 36 counties were eligible to receive funds provided they met the eligibility requirements. If passed during the 2025 regular session, House Bill 3171 would extend the timeline for the program to allow for the remaining counties to participate.

More information about the program is available on ODOE’s website.

Press Releases, Safety & Resilience, ODOE GrantsKatelyn JacksonPress release, News Release, resiliency, Resilience, Counties, County Energy Resilience Program